Slade Griffin
{{Short description|New Zealand international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Slade Griffin
|fullname =
|image = SLADE GRIFFIN.jpg
|imagesize =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|1|17}}
|birth_place = Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|178|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|94|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|HK|LK}}
|club1 = Melbourne Storm
|year1start = 2013
|year1end = 17
|appearances1 = 25
|tries1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 0
|club2 = Newcastle Knights
|year2start = 2018
|year2end =
|appearances2 = 16
|tries2 = 2
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 8
|teamA = New Zealand
|yearAstart = 2018
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|retired =
|updated = 20 May 2019
}}
Slade Griffin (born 17 January 1991) is a former New Zealand international rugby league footballer. His positions were {{rlp|hk}} and {{rlp|lk}}. He is currently the head coach of the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership.
He previously played for the Melbourne Storm and the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. He won the 2017 NRL Grand Final with Melbourne. He played 1 game for the New Zealand kiwis before suffering a career ending knee injury the following weekend.
Early life
Born in Glen Innes, Australia, Griffin grew up in Greymouth, New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/storm/why-slade-griffin-is-grateful-for-every-nrl-game-he-plays/news-story/988f0647bb8fbd485cfefa101f32a4d3|title=Griffin grateful for every game|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2017}} He was educated at Greymouth High School.
Griffin played his junior rugby league for the Cobden-Kohinoor Keas, before being signed by the Melbourne Storm.
Playing career
=Early career=
From 2009 to 2011, Griffin played for the Melbourne Storm's NYC team, scoring 13 tries in 46 appearances,{{cite web|url=https://nycdatabase.org/players/g/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623194912/http://nycdatabase.org/players/g/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 June 2015|title=G|date=27 December 2012|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2017}}{{cite web|date=2011|title=Slade GRIFFIN|url=http://www.rleague.com//db/player/g/griffin_slade/index.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502100832/http://www.rleague.com/db/player/g/griffin_slade/index.php|archive-date=May 2, 2011|access-date=May 10, 2015}} before graduating to the Storm's New South Wales Cup team, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2012.
In a 2012 pre-season trial match, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee,{{cite web|url=http://leagueunlimited.com/news/25824-slade-griffin-out-for-season|title=Slade Griffin out for season » League Unlimited|website=League Unlimited|accessdate=3 October 2017}} ruling him out for the rest of the season, however the Storm decided to extend his contract for another year allowing him to come back from injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/storm/the-extraordinary-gesture-from-melbourne-storm-that-saved-slade-griffins-career/news-story/12e1b9ed753fff82a378588453fcd090|title=NRL grand final 2017: Slade Griffin contract Melbourne Storm|date=29 September 2017|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2017}}
=2013=
In round 1 of the 2013 NRL season, Griffin made his NRL debut for the Storm against the St. George Illawarra Dragons.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2013/round-1/melbourne-vs-st-george-illawarra/summary.html|title=NRL 2013 - Round 1 - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=3 October 2017}}{{cite web|date=10 March 2013|title=Round 1 Late Mail|url=http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Round-1-Late-Mail/69624|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605034711/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Round-1-Late-Mail/69624|archive-date=June 5, 2013|access-date=May 10, 2015}}
File:Sladegriffin.JPG-Sharks NSW Cup team in 2013.]]
In June, he re-signed with the Storm on a 1-year contract until the end of 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/storm-re-signs-young-talent-9935/|title=Storm re-signs young talent - Zero Tackle|date=10 June 2013|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2017}} He went on to play 11 NRL games in his debut season.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/NS0xNjI5LTQtLS0tLS0yMDI1OC0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0=|title=Custom Match List - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=3 October 2017}}
=2014=
In March, Griffin re-signed with the Storm on a 2-year contract until the end of 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/storm-re-sign-three-future-super-stars-12646/|title=Storm re-sign three future super stars - Zero Tackle|date=18 March 2014|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2017}} In April during a New South Wales Cup game, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament for a second time, this time in his left knee, stopping him from playing any NRL games in the 2014 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/supercoach/nrl-round-14-casualty-ward-shark-andrew-fifita-and-bulldogs-perrett-and-klemmer-out-for-six-weeks/news-story/80327a5c777413b81bd53b5444f4281b|title=Casualty ward: Fifita out for six weeks|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2017}} In July, he received a two match suspension from the NRL after being found to have placed a bet on NRL matches.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/nrl-to-look-at-injury-disclosure-after-gambling-suspensions-20140710-zt3br.html|title=NRL to look at injury disclosure after gambling suspensions|publisher=Theage.com.au|date=10 July 2014|accessdate=2015-06-18}}
=2015=
In April while playing in an Intrust Super Cup game for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, Griffin suffered a third anterior cruciate ligament injury, the second in his left knee, which would again rule him out for the season without playing any NRL matches.
=2016=
After 1056 days since his last NRL match, Griffin returned to the Storm line-up in round 15 of the 2016 season, starting at hooker.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2016/round-15/st-george-illawarra-vs-melbourne/summary.html|title=NRL 2016 - Round 15 - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=3 October 2017}} In October, he re-signed with the Storm on a 1-year contract until the end of 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/storm-re-sign-griffin-add-youngsters-24161/|title=Storm re-sign Griffin, add youngsters - Zero Tackle|date=11 October 2016|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2017}}
=2017=
In 2017, Griffin was able to break into Melbourne's line-up more regularly, coming off the interchange bench in their 2017 NRL Grand Final win over the North Queensland Cowboys.{{cite web |title=Slade Griffin gets shot at NRL grand final glory after three knee reconstructions |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/97428008/slade-griffin-gets-shot-at-nrl-grand-final-glory-after-three-knee-reconstructions |accessdate=3 October 2017 |website=Stuff}} He finished the season having played in 14 NRL matches.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/NS0xNjk2LTQtLS0tLS0yMDI1OC0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0=|title=Custom Match List - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=3 October 2017}} Two days after the grand final, he signed a 2-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2018, in a bid for more first-grade opportunity with Australian captain Cameron Smith ahead of him for the starting {{rlp|hk}} position at the Storm.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/slade-griffin-joins-knights-29559/|title=Slade Griffin joins Knights - Zero Tackle|date=3 October 2017|publisher=|accessdate=3 October 2017}}
=2018=
In round 1 of the 2018 season, Griffin made his debut for the Knights in their 19-18 golden point extra-time win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, scoring a try.{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2018/03/09/late-mail-knights-v-manly/|title=Late mail: Knights v Manly|date=9 March 2018|publisher=|accessdate=9 March 2018}} In June, he made his international debut for New Zealand against England in Denver, Colorado.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/denver-test-new-zealand-warriors-michael-maguire-coach-england-squad-burgess/1ri8bk704hz1t1uytpkdz70w4n|title=Denver Test: New Zealand and England announce squads|date=17 June 2018|publisher=|accessdate=4 July 2018}} Just a week later, while playing for the Knights in their round 16 clash against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, he was passing the ball from dummy half and his leg got caught in a position which ruptured multiple ligaments in his left knee, including a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee graft, ruptured lateral ligament and torn lateral meniscus.{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2018/07/04/round-17-injury-update-griffin-shattered-but-positive-after-knee/|title=Round 17 injury update: Griffin 'shattered' but positive after knee|date=4 July 2018|publisher=|accessdate=4 July 2018}} This would be his third ACL knee injury to his left knee and meant he faced a 9-12 month recovery period.
=2019=
While working as a trainer and coach for the Knights during the 2019 season, Griffin ultimately didn't make it back from his knee injury, departing the club at the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2019/09/18/departures-goodbye-to-knights-leaving-in-2019/|title=Departures! Goodbye to Knights leaving in 2019|date=18 September 2019|website=Newcastle Knights}}
Coaching career
In July 2020, Griffin was announced as the new coach of the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's (NRLW) team.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/07/03/warriors-coach-griffin-preparing-for-all-nrlw-scenarios/|title=Warriors coach Griffin preparing for all NRLW scenarios|publisher=National Rugby League|first=Brad|last=Walter|date=3 July 2020|accessdate=3 July 2020}}
Personal life
Griffin currently studies a Bachelor of Property and Real Estate at Deakin University.{{cite web |title=Elite Athlete Program Profiles |url=https://www.deakin.edu.au/students/student-life-and-services/get-involved/elite-athlete-program-profiles |publisher=Deakin University |access-date=27 August 2023}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/newcastle-knights/slade-griffin/ Newcastle Knights profile]
{{New Zealand Warriors women's squad}}
{{Melbourne Storm - 2017 NRL premiers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffin, Slade}}
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
Category:Australian emigrants to New Zealand
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Cobden-Kohinoor players
Category:Brisbane Tigers players
Category:Melbourne Storm players
Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players
Category:Newcastle Knights players
Category:People educated at Greymouth High School